Newspaper and Periodical Stamps.
Issue of 1865.
The newspaper stamps issued by the United States Post Office Department do not correspond in their usage very nearly to the stamps denominated newspaper stamps in other countries. The series under review had a very limited and peculiar use. While the dissemination of learning and information had always been fostered in every way by the Acts of Congress, and the distribution of newspapers and periodicals had always been undertaken by the post office at rates that did not pay for the expense of the service, in the intention of encouraging these publications, the Department always found a great rival in the express companies, which, having conformed their rules to the exigencies of business, were enabled to deliver newspapers and periodicals from the trains to the agents and dealers always hours, sometimes days before those sent by the mails reached their destination, as these were sent to the post office and there assorted, some to be delivered locally and others to be made up again into the new mail for further transportation, while those sent by the express companies being transferred at the depot, often finished their journey before the mails could be made up and started.
This service assisted the express companies in those violations of the postal laws which each year the Postmaster General called to the attention of Congress, and Congress endeavored to reach by new laws. The government got the expensive service, the express companies the paying business partly because of their more liberal rates, but particularly because of their more expeditious service.
The attempt was therefore made to so frame the law that the post office might successfully compete for the carriage of newspapers. The Act of the XXXVII Congress, III Session, Chapter 71, Section 38, approved the 3rd of March, 1863, reads:
"And be it further enacted that the Postmaster General may, from time to time, provide by order the rates and terms upon which route agents may receive and deliver, at the mail car or steamer, packages of newspapers and periodicals, delivered to them for that purpose by the publishers or any news agent in charge thereof, and not received from or designed for delivery at any post office."
Under this act for some time payment was made in money, but the report of the Postmaster General dated November 15th, 1865, states:
"New stamps have been adopted of the denominations of 5, 10, and 25 cents for prepaying postage on packages of newspapers forwarded by publishers or news dealers under the authority of law, whereby a revenue will be secured, hitherto lost to the Department."
In the report of the Postmaster General for 1878, the date of this issue is stated to have been April 1st, 1865. In the accounts of the number of stamps issued in each quarter it appears, however, that the first issue was in the quarter between June 30th and September 30th, 1865.
The stamps were of very large dimensions, and the figures conspicuous. A package adorned with the requisite number was mailed on the train and it could easily be seen that it was duly stamped. The stamps were ordinarily if not always, cancelled by smearing them with ink, with a brush, and not with hand stamps, and the packages were thrown out of the cars to the agents waiting at each station to receive them, and were often torn open by the agent at the depot and distributed to his customers there. Thus the delay that sending them to the post office for distribution would have caused, was avoided.
Issue of April 1st, 1865.
Five Cents. Large bust of Washington in profile, faced to the right, indicated by colorless curved lines, on a round medallion of straight horizontal lines, 28 mm. in diameter, surrounded by a circular band of curved interlaced colorless lines, all on a colored ground, a smaller circular disk, 11 mm. in diameter, interrupting this band on each side displays a large "V," in color on a horizontally lined ground. Above on a solid ground of color, but ornamented by interlaced colorless lines in colorless letters, "U. S." and "Postage," in a second curved line; below the head on a solid curved label covering a portion of the circular band in large colorless capitals, "Five Cents"; below this again, the ground is ornamented by several colorless lines upon which appear in colored capitals, "Newspapers," a colored label with "and"; in colorless capitals "Periodicals"; below this again, in two lines of colorless capitals on the colored ground, "Sec. 18, Act of Congress approved—March 3d, 1863." In each upper corner is a large colorless numeral "5." About all is a frame of 3 colorless lines, ornamented at the corners. The words "National Bank Note Company, New York," in small colorless capitals appear between the lower colorless lines. The colored ground extends between the stamps which were perforated.
Plate impression, 55 by 98 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
5 cents, dark blue.
Note. 20,140 of this value were issued.
Ten Cents. Similar design, but with the profile of Franklin in an oval, the side letters "X," the label "Ten Cents," the upper numerals "10," set at an angle.
Plate impression, 55 by 98 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
10 cents, green.
Note. 215,600 of this value were issued.
Twenty-Five Cents. Similar design, but with the profile of Lincoln, faced to the left, in a rectangle with corners cut off, "25" in figures instead of numerals at the side, on the label "Twenty Five Cents," the upper numerals "25" set at an angle.
Plate impression, 55 by 98 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
25 cents, vermilion.
Note. 31,488 of this value were issued.
In 1868-9 there were issued 35,420 more of the five cent value, but these were improved by having the broad colored border removed till only a fine colored line remained outside the colorless frame.
Plate impression, 51½ by 95 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
5 cents, dark blue, white border.
The Postmaster General's Report for 1869 states that the use of these stamps ceased about the 1st of February, 1869. They were used principally at Chicago, Ill., and Milwaukee, Wis. Reprints were made of all of them except the 5 cents with white border, with the other early issues in 1874.
There was a very wide margin of some 65 mm. at the top and bottom of the sheet, the manufacturers imprint appearing at the top and bottom in colored letters on a small white label let into the colored ground. It is not known how many stamps formed a sheet.
Newspaper and Periodical Stamps.
Issue of 1874.
Notwithstanding the very liberal provisions of all the laws regarding postage on printed matter, and particularly those of this Act of March 3rd, 1863, we find the Postmaster General in his report of November 15th, 1869, complaining that the Department was largely defrauded of its revenues by abuses rendered possible by the provisions of that Act, and suggesting that:
"For this mischief there is but one adequate remedy, and that is to require prepayment on all printed matter. A due regard to the convenience of the publishers of newspapers would require that postage on newspapers should be charged according to the weight of packages, and that such packages should when suspected, be liable to be opened and searched, and penalties provided if they were found to contain improper matter."
Nothing seems to have resulted from his recommendations, however. The inconveniences of the system led to calling the attention of Congress to the matter again in the Report of the Postmaster General, in 1873. He says:
"In my report for 1869, I had the honor to suggest a plan for the prepayment of postage on newspapers and other matter of the second class by weight of packages rather than by the present system, which requires the manipulation of each particular paper, and allows the payment of postage at either the mailing office, or the office of delivery. A careful revision of the subject confirms me in the opinion, that the postage on all such matter should be collected in advance at the mailing office. * * * No stamps are used for the payment of such postage; and the Department is compelled to accept in full satisfaction whatever sums of money postmasters choose to charge against themselves. So execrably bad is this system, that postal officers of high standing have estimated that not more than one-third of the postage properly chargeable on newspapers is accounted for and paid over. Furthermore, disputes are continually arising, as to whether the sheets they transmit, come within the meaning of the term newspapers. * * * I respectfully submit the following plan for the prepayment of postage on newspapers of the second class, and urge its adoption. Let all publishers, their business managers or agents, be required at the beginning of every quarter, to state under oath the number of papers of a certain name, they will send by mail during the quarter, and pay the postage thereon in advance. On the other hand, postmasters to make return of all newspapers, with particulars, mailed to regular subscribers. No stamps would be required. Every paper answering to the description would be forwarded. No manipulation of each paper would be required, and the saving to publishers in time and labor, would, it is thought, be greater than the amount paid for postage, while the saving to the Department, would justify a reduction of 40 per cent in the rates, on this class of matter. Periodicals to come under the same law."
The result of the deliberations upon this suggestion, was the passage by Congress of the following law:
XLIII Congress, Statute 1, Chapter 456, approved June 23rd, 1874, "Section 5. That on and after the first day of January, 1875, all newspapers and periodical publications mailed from a known office of publication or news agency and addressed to regular subscribers or news agents shall be charged the following rates:
On newspapers and periodical publications issued weekly and more frequently than once a week, two cents for each pound or fraction thereof, and on those issued less frequently than once a week three cents for each pound or fraction thereof, provided that nothing in this Act shall be held to change or amend Section 99 of the Act entitled: An Act to revise, consolidate and amend the statutes relating to the Post Office Department, approved June 8th, 1872.
Sec. 6. That on and after the first day of January, 1875, upon the receipt of such newspapers and periodical publications at the office of mailing, they shall be weighed in bulk, and postage paid thereon by a special adhesive stamp; to be devised and furnished by the Postmaster General, which shall be affixed to such matter or to the sack containing the same; or upon a memorandum of such mailing, or otherwise as the Postmaster General may from time to time provide by regulation, etc., etc."
The report of the Postmaster General also states Nov. 14th 1874, that being confined to these three modes of collecting this postage,
"It was deemed best to recommend the adoption of the system of prepayment by postage stamps 'affixed to a memorandum of mailing' or in other words, to a stub in a book retained by the postmaster at the mailing office; a receipt, showing the weight of matter and the amount paid, being given by the postmaster to the person mailing the same; the stamps affixed to the stub, to be cancelled by a cutting punch, thus preventing their reuse. * * * The Postmaster General having approved the recommendations, a series of stamps have been devised of twenty four denominations, by means of which any sum which is a multiple of either the two or three cent rate, from two cents to seventy-two dollars, can be made by the use of not more than five stamps."
In the report dated November 15th, 1875, we find the following observations and descriptions of this issue which will further explain the mode of using them, which seems to be little understood, except by publishers and post office officials.
"On the first day of January 1875, the new law, requiring prepayment of postage by stamps, on all newspapers and periodicals sent from a known office of publication, to regular subscribers through the mails, went into operation. The system inaugurated to carry the law into effect, was approved in October, 1874 and has been found by experience to be admirably adapted to the purposes for which it was devised. No complaints of abuses on the part of publishers or postmasters, have been received at this office during the nine months, that have elapsed since the law went into effect. Indeed, it has worked so well in all its details, and has given such general satisfaction, that the idea of returning to the old system, or materially modifying the new one, ought not to be entertained.
Previous to the time when this law began to operate, no stamps were required for the payment of postage on newspapers sent to regular subscribers, as the postage was collected in money quarterly, at the office of delivery. Last year there were 35,000 post offices at which newspaper postage was collected, while under the present true system of the absolute prepayment of all postage, the whole amount is collected at about 3,400 offices, the latter representing the number of places in the United States at which newspapers and periodicals are mailed.
The papers for subscribers living outside of the county in which they are published, are made up in bulk at the publication office, carried to the post office and there weighed. The postage is computed on the whole issue, the proper amount in stamps handed to the postmaster, who gives the publisher a receipt as evidence of payment, and on the stubs of the receipt book he affixes and cancels the stamps which correspond in value, with the sum mentioned in the receipt. Thus one transaction is all that is required in paying the postage upon a single issue of any regular publication. The stubs with their cancelled stamps, are kept in the post office as vouchers for the postage paid. In no case are the stamps affixed to the papers or packages that pass through the mails.
These stamps are twenty-four in number and were prepared by the Continental Bank Note Company, of New York, from designs selected in October, 1874." Elsewhere it is stated that the distribution to postmasters began December 11th, 1874. "The denominations are as follows, viz: 2 cents, 3 cents, 4 cents, 6 cents, 8 cents, 9 cents, 10 cents, 12 cents, 24 cents, 36 cents, 48 cents, 60 cents, 72 cents, 84 cents, 96 cents, $1.92 cents, $3, $6, $9, $12, $24, $36, $48 and $60. These denominations were found to be necessary, in order that payment might be made on any given quantity from one pound to one ton, at both the two and three cent rate, with the use of not to exceed five stamps in any transaction.
No description of these stamps having been given in any official form. I may be pardoned for presenting herewith a detailed description of them, in order that it may be printed, and be permanently preserved in the records of the department."
Two Cents to Ten Cents, inclusive, emblematical figure of America, looking to the right and modeled after Crawford's statue surmounting the dome of the capitol. The left hand rests on a shield, and holds a wreath; the right rests on a sword. The head is adorned with a head dress consisting of a coronet of stars, surmounted by an eagle's head and plumes. The background is horizontally lined and in parts diagonally also. The vignette stands in an arched frame, composed of vertical lines; and on either side of this frame, and at the top are slabs containing the inscriptions (the upper in colored letters on horizontally lined ground, the others in colorless block capitals, the sides upon vertically lined ground), "Newspapers" and "Periodicals" (at the sides), "U. S. Postage" (at top). At the bottom are shaded outline block letters, representing the value, which is also indicated by large outlined figures shaded on the face, in the upper corners, on foliated scrolls. The lower corners are ornamented with shields. The color of these stamps is black.
Twelve Cents to Ninety-Six Cents, inclusive. Vignette of Astraea or Justice, in niche, bordered by a colorless line curved at the top, holding in her right hand the balance, and resting with her left on a shield bearing the United States coat of arms. The figure is full robed, mailed and girdled as to the upper part and helmeted. Surmounting the helmet is an eagle with out-stretched wings on a background horizontally and diagonally lined. Figures representing values in shaded numerals on shields, in the upper corners; values also in sunken letters below, on solid labels bordered by a colorless and colored line, richly ornamented. Inscriptions, "Newspapers," "Periodicals," on side and at top in shaded outlined capitals on vertically lined ground. Color, pink.
One Dollar and Ninety-Two Cents. Vignette of Ceres, Goddess of Agriculture, in curved niche, bordered by a colorless line and a vertically lined frame. She holds in her left hand an ear of corn, her right holding a wreath, rests against the hip. The figure faced to the front and is clad in full flowing robes. "U. S. Postage" at the top, other inscriptions, "Newspapers," "Periodicals," in italic capitals shaded on the face and outside, on obelisks at either side, resting on the lower slab, which is in solid color, containing value, "One dollar and ninety-two cents," in two lines of white capitals. Value also in figures, "$1-92/100" in upper corners. Color, deep brown.
Three Dollars. Goddess of Victory in curved niche, full-robed, girdled with sword to the left, and mantle thrown over shoulders. The right hand is stretched forward, holding a wreath; the left rests on a shield. Outline figures of value, "$3" on octagons in upper corners, value below in letters on either side of a large outline figure "3" on a shield. Inscriptions, "Newspapers," "Periodicals," in colorless capitals, in solid labels on either side, and "U. S. Postage" on lined ground above. The niche and labels are all edged with colorless lines. The background is vertically lined. Color, vermilion.
Six Dollars. Clio, the Muse of History in curved niche, bordered by colorless line, on horizontally lined ground, full robed the toga thrown over the left shoulder. In her right hand she holds a stylus, in the left a tablet. Outline colorless figures of value, "$6" in upper corners, surrounded by curved ornaments. Inscriptions, "Newspapers," "Periodicals," in white shaded letters on the sides, and above "U. S. Postage" in dark letters, value, "Six Dollars" in outline colorless letters in label, on vertically lined ground. Color, light blue.
Nine Dollars. Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, full robed, in curved niche, bordered by a colorless line with horizontally and diagonally lined ground. The left hand is placed across her breast, holding a portion of her toga; the right is grasping a spear. Figures of value "$9" in upper corners, in foliated ornaments. Inscriptions, "Newspapers," "Periodicals," on sides in outline colorless and shaded italics, and above in small colored letters, on the lined ground, "U. S. Postage." Value, "Nine Dollars," also in letters shaded on the face, below on scroll. Beneath is a large "9" in curved foliated ornaments. Color, orange.
Twelve Dollars. Vesta, Goddess of the Fireside, full robed in curved niche, with horizontally lined ground, and bordered by a colorless line. The left hand lifts her drapery; the right holds a burning lamp. Figures of value, "$12" in upper corners on tablets. Value, "Twelve Dollars" also in colorless letters on beaded frame beneath. Inscriptions, "Newspapers," "Periodicals," on solid (sic), italic letters on sides, and "U. S. Postage" in small white letters above. Frame of vertical lines. Color, rich green.
Twenty-Four Dollars. Goddess of Peace in curved niche, bordered by a colorless line, and on horizontally lined ground, a half naked figure leaning against a broken column. She holds in her right hand an olive branch, while her left grasps three arrows. The value, "Twenty-four Dollars" is in colorless letters beneath, on a solid tablet; also in figures "$24" in ornamented curves in upper corners. Inscriptions, "U. S. Postage" in white shaded letters above, and "Newspapers," "Periodicals" on the sides between which latter and each upper corner is a six-pointed star. The back ground is vertically lined. The ornaments bordered by a colorless line. Color, purplish shade.
Thirty-Six Dollars. Figure representing Commerce, in full garments, in curved niche, bordered by a colorless line with hatched background. She holds in her left hand the caduceus, the winged rod of Mercury, in her right a miniature ship. Figures of value, "$36" in the upper corners and "Thirty-six Dollars" in ornamented capitals below, in two lines. Inscriptions, "Newspapers," "Periodicals," also in ornamented capitals on sides and "U. S. Postage" in colorless capitals above. The frame is vertically lined. Color, dull red.
Forty-Eight Dollars. Hebe, the Goddess of Youth, partly draped in curved niche with colorless border and horizontally lined ground. The right hand holds a cup, which she is offering to the eagle around whose neck is thrown her left arm. Shaded figures of value, "$48" on shields in the upper corners, the word "Postage" between in colorless capitals on solid label. The value, "Forty-eight Dollars" also in colorless letters below on solid ground, in curved ornaments. The letters "U." and "S." in colorless circles between the corners and side inscriptions, "Newspapers," "Periodicals," the latter being in colorless letters on solid curved labels. Frame vertically lined. Color, light brown.
Sixty Dollars. Vignette of an Indian Maiden, standing in a rectangular frame. She is robed from her waist downward. Her right arm is extended, while her left hangs by her side. The background is a landscape. Trees and vines to the left, and wigwams to the right in the distance, bordered by a colorless line between fine colored lines. Figures of value, "$60" on shields in the upper corners. Value, "Sixty Dollars" also in white letters on solid tablets below. Inscriptions, "Newspapers," "Periodicals," in white on solid labels on the sides. "U. S." in colorless capitals on the ground, and "Postage" on a band in colored letters above. Ground vertically lined. Color, rich purple.
Post Office Department,
Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General,
Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Env. & Post Cards.
Washington D. C., April 25, 1879.
The attention of Postmasters is hereby called to the fact, that on and after the first of May proximo, under the act of March 3d, 1879, matter of the second class, commonly known as newspaper and periodical matter, will be entitled to pass through the mail, at a uniform rate of 2 cents per pound. Care will be taken not to collect payment on such matter, at more than that rate. The same general regulations concerning the collection of newspaper postage, as have been heretofore promulgated will remain in force, and the same books and blanks together with the newspaper and periodical stamps, that are now outstanding will continue to be used. In future, however, the issue of the three and nine cents denominations of newspaper and periodical stamps, will be discontinued. * * * *
A. D. HAZEN,
Third Assistant Postmaster General.
Act of the XLV Congress, Session III, Chapter 180, approved March 3rd, 1879, Sections 10 and 14 merely change the classification to a uniform one at the rate of two cents per pound.
The Act of the XLVIII Congress, Session II, Chapter 342, approved March 3rd, 1885, provides as stated in Order No. 109 of the Postmaster General, dated April 24th, 1885, "That all publications of the second class, * * * shall on and after July 1st, 1885, be entitled to transmission through the mails at one cent a pound or fraction thereof. * * * To provide for wants that may arise from this change in the rate of second class postage, the Department has decided to issue a newspaper and periodical stamp of the denomination of one cent, the design and color of which will be the same as those of the present series of newspaper and periodical stamps of the denomination of from 2 to 10 cents. Stamps of this new denomination will be ready for issue by the 1st of June, after which all postmasters needing them will make requisition for suitable supplies."
Newspaper and Periodical Stamps.
Series of 1875-1885.
Plate impression, 24 by 35½ mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| June 1st, 1885, | 1 | cent, | black. | ||
| Jan. 1st, 1875, | 3 | cents, | " | to April 25th, 1879. | |
| 9 | " | " | """ | ||
| 2 | " | " | |||
| 4 | " | " | |||
| 6 | " | " | |||
| 8 | " | " | |||
| 10 | " | " | |||
| 12 | " | carmine, | |||
| 24 | " | " | |||
| 36 | " | " | |||
| 48 | " | " | |||
| 60 | " | " | |||
| 72 | " | " | |||
| 84 | " | " | |||
| 96 | " | " | |||
| 1 | dollar | 92 | " | deep brown | |
| 3 | dollars | vermilion | |||
| 6 | " | light blue | |||
| 9 | " | orange | |||
| 12 | " | rich green | |||
| 24 | " | purplish slate | |||
| 36 | " | dull red | |||
| 48 | " | light brown | |||
| 60 | " | rich purple | |||
These stamps were not reprinted in 1874, but samples ungummed and surcharged "specimen" were sold to collectors.
Observations.
A slight change in the regulations now prohibits postmasters from selling these stamps even to publishers, but the money is received and the requisite amount in stamps placed upon the stubs and cancelled. The amount sold and the amount used in an office should now correspond. The stubs are sent periodically to Washington with the accounts, compared and destroyed. Used specimens and even unused specimens are likely to grow rare in collections.